2 weeks ago
Ukraine long-range strikes hit Russian airfield and rocket centre
Ukraine and Russia are fighting a big war that started in February 2022.
Ukraine's army sent long-range missiles deep into Russia this weekend.
They hit a military airfield with fighter jets and a factory that makes rockets.
The rocket factory helps build rockets for a new internet service called Rassvet, which is like Russia's version of Starlink.
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the attacks are meant to weaken Russia's ability to fight the war.
Russian officials said their air defences stopped many of the missiles, but admitted some buildings were damaged.
The two countries have been attacking each other's cities, factories, and fuel supplies far from the front lines.
Russia also sent about 152 attack drones toward Ukraine overnight.
Leaders on both sides want to hurt the other side's war machine.
Reporters cannot check everything the leaders say, so some details are still unclear.
Ukraine said its long-range strikes hit the Savasleyka military airfield in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region and the Progress rocket and space centre in the Samara region.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Flamingo cruise missiles were used, describing the strikes as part of Kyiv's 'long-range sanctions' campaign.
Ukraine's General Staff said direct hits sparked fires at both sites, while Samara officials said air defences repelled a 'massive missile attack' and only localised industrial damage occurred.
The Progress plant produces rockets for the Rassvet broadband satellite network, Russia's alternative to SpaceX's Starlink, which operates in Ukraine but not in Russia.
Russia launched an overnight attack on Ukraine on August 15 with 152 Shahed-type drones and loitering munitions, and reported striking Ukrainian logistics, fuel, energy and transport infrastructure.
- Who
- Ukraine's military and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who claimed the strikes; Russian officials in the Samara and Nizhny Novgorod regions responded to the attacks.
- What
- Long-range strikes, reportedly using Flamingo cruise missiles, hit the Savasleyka military airfield and the Progress rocket and space centre, along with recent strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
- Where
- Inside Russia: Savasleyka military airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region and the Progress rocket and space centre in the Samara region, about 900 km (560 miles) from Ukraine's border.
- When
- On Saturday, August 15, 2026; the strikes followed a Ukrainian attack on the Ust-Luga port on August 14 and came as Russia launched an overnight drone attack on Ukraine on August 15.
- Why
- To reduce Russia's war potential and pressure Moscow to end the more than four-year war by damaging military and energy facilities deep inside Russian territory.
Ukraine's account
Russia's account
Success of the strikes
Ukraine's account
Ukraine says direct hits were recorded at both the airfield and the rocket centre, sparking fires at both sites and reducing Russia's war potential.
Russia's account
Russian officials in Samara said air defences repelled a 'massive missile attack' and reported only localised damage to industrial infrastructure; authorities in Nizhny Novgorod gave no confirmation of the airfield strike.
Targets and attribution
Ukraine's account
Ukraine says it deliberately hit the Progress facility, which produces rockets for the Rassvet satellite network, and the Savasleyka airbase hosting missile-capable aircraft.
Russia's account
Russian authorities confirmed missiles struck an unidentified industrial facility, saying emergency services were dealing with the aftermath without specifying which site was affected.
Key facts
- Struck targets
- Savasleyka military airfield (Nizhny Novgorod region) and Progress rocket and space centre (Samara region)
- Missiles used
- Flamingo cruise missiles (per Ukraine)
- Distance from Ukraine's border
- About 900 km (560 miles)
- Rassvet network
- Russia's Starlink-style broadband satellite network; Progress plant makes launch rockets for it
- Russian air defence response
- Samara officials said a 'massive missile attack' was repelled, with only localised industrial damage
- Ukrainian war goal
- Reduce Russia's war potential and pressure Moscow to end the war
- Russian attack on Ukraine
- 152 Shahed-type drones and loitering munitions overnight on August 15
- War start
- Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022
Quotes
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
“"In the past 24 hours its drones, missiles and artillery had struck Ukrainian logistics centres and fuel, energy, and transport infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army, as well as assembly workshops for long‑range drones and drone boats."”
telegraphindia.com
“"It is important that Russia's war potential be reduced. Peace is needed, and this must be evident in Russia – through concrete damage to specific facilities."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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